Back Pain
Back pain is very common. It can be acute or chronic and there are many causes including:
Muscle Strains – Overstretched or torn muscles.
Herniated, Prolapsed / Bulging Discs: Bulging of the discs that sit between your spinal vertebra that can compress spinal nerves and cause pain.
Sciatica: Irritation of the sciatic nerve often caused by compression or irritation which can cause pain, numbness, tingling and/or weakness. This is usually felt in the leg, but you may have back pain too.
Scoliosis: Abnormal curvature of the spine can cause back pain.
Degenerative Discs: Breakdown of intervertebral discs due to aging and wear and tear.
Facet Joint Dysfunction: Pain arising from the joints between the vertebrae.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal, which can compress nerves.
How can osteopathy help?
Osteopaths are well-equipped to help manage and alleviate back pain through a holistic approach that focuses on the musculoskeletal system. As osteopaths, we focus on improving overall function, relieving pain, and addressing the root causes of the problem. By combining manual therapy, exercise, ergonomic advice, and lifestyle modifications, we can help patients achieve lasting relief from back pain and enhance their quality of life.
Osteopaths conduct a thorough assessment including case history, physical examination and posture analysis. We also use palpation (feeling of the tissues) to assess muscle tone and joint mobility.
Once a cause of your pain is determined your osteopath will discuss a treatment plan with you – with the aim to help pain management, reducing inflammation and improving mobility and function. Osteopathic treatment uses gentle hands-on manual therapy techniques which may include soft tissue massage, stretching, and gentle joint manipulation. Some of our osteopaths may use soothing cranial techniques which are focused on the head and spine. If cranial osteopathy is a specific request of yours, please let us know before booking an appointment so we can make sure you are seeing a practitioner who uses cranial techniques.
Your osteopath may provide you with an exercise programme tailored to your specific needs. This may include exercises to help strengthen your core muscles, improve flexibility and support your spine. Osteopaths can also provide guidance to help reduce strain on your back whilst working, as well as offer sleep positioning and daily activity advice.
Regular osteopathic check-ups which include assessment and treatment can help to maintain spinal health and prevent recurrence of back pain.
Osteopaths are trained to screen for medical conditions. If the cause of your back pain is not musculoskeletal, you may need to be referred to another healthcare practitioner.
